The Durgapura Open Camp was established by the then Governor of Rajasthan, Dr. Sampurnanand, in 1956.
The camp was set up in the Government Agriculture and Research Centre campus in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The open prison was designed with the goal of rehabilitating prisoners rather than merely punishing them. It was part of the broader reform movement to create a more humane and productive environment for prisoners who had already spent significant time in regular prisons.
Prisoners who had already spent at least six years in regular prisons were eligible for transfer to the open camp. The key feature of this camp was that prisoners were allowed to live with their families within the camp’s premises. Prisoners had the freedom to work and contribute to society during the day but were required to return to the camp at night.
The primary aim was to provide an environment to help prisoners gradually reintegrate into society, offering them the opportunity to work, earn, and rebuild their lives.
By allowing prisoners to be part of their families and engage with the outside world, the program aimed to reduce the emotional and psychological strain that often accompanies long-term imprisonment.
The open camp aimed to prepare individuals for a return to normal life and reduce the likelihood of recidivism (reoffending). The success of the Durgapura Open Camp led to the replication of this idea in other parts of India.
Open prisons became a key feature of the broader movement towards prison reforms in India, focusing on improving conditions in jails and emphasizing rehabilitation and reformation.
The camp set a precedent for non-punitive correctional systems, highlighting the potential for change and growth within incarcerated individuals.
The Durgapura Open Camp was a pioneering initiative in the history of Indian corrections and prison reform.
It introduced a humane and rehabilitative approach to dealing with prisoners, contributing positively to the broader reform of the Indian prison system by allowing them to work, earn, and live with their families.
